More Botanicals: Wild Dagga, Akuamma, Saffron & Mad Honey

Four botanicals that do not fit under kanna, kava, lotus or amanita but have earned a permanent place on our shelf. Wild dagga (Leonotis leonurus) is the orange-flowered South African shrub we grow alongside our kanna, sold as dried flower, extract, tincture and infused pre-rolls, with its cousin klip dagga. Akuamma (Picralima nitida) is a West African seed, offered whole, as a 20:1 extract powder, resin and akuammine isolate. Saffron comes as Super Negin stigmas, extract powder and resin. Mad honey is the Himalayan cliff honey, in standard and high potency jars.

At a glance

• Wild dagga grown on our farm in South Africa
• Akuamma in whole seed, extract, resin and isolate
• Saffron graded Super Negin, the top stigma grade
• Mad honey from Himalayan rhododendron forests, 25 g jars

Wild dagga. Traditionally smoked or brewed in southern Africa, dagga flower has a mild, relaxed character and a pleasant smoke. The infused pre-rolls pair flower with dagga extract and terpenes. It is the easiest plant on this page to start with.

Akuamma. A bitter seed used in West African tradition. Most people take the extract powder in capsules or the resin by a small measured amount, because the whole seed is hard and extremely bitter. The isolate is for formulators. Akuamma is strong for its size; follow the product page serving and start low.

Saffron. Culinary and traditional in one. Super Negin stigmas are the longest, reddest grade, with no yellow style attached. The extract and resin are for anyone who wants saffron without steeping threads.

Mad honey. Harvested from cliff hives in Nepal where bees forage on rhododendron. It is eaten by the teaspoon, never more, and the high potency jar is for people who already know how it affects them.

Cautions.

• Mad honey: start with half a teaspoon, never exceed the serving on the jar, and do not combine with alcohol or blood pressure medication
• Akuamma: do not combine with other sedating botanicals or medications without asking your provider
• None of these are for use if pregnant or nursing
• Adults 21 and over only; keep out of reach of children

Common questions

• Is wild dagga related to cannabis? No. It is a mint-family shrub; the name is a South African word for a smoking herb.
• Why is mad honey sold in such small jars? Because a serving is a teaspoon. A 25 g jar is a month of use for most people.
• Is Super Negin the same as grade A saffron? It is the top of the Negin grades, which sit above Sargol and Pushal in ISO grading.

Disclaimer. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Traditional use does not establish that any botanical will produce a particular result. Consult your healthcare provider before use if you take any medication or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.

Written by Robert Lattig, founder of Healing Herbals, practicing herbalist for 13 years.